Great, 2 max players... Mo Taylor who can't rebound for peanuts and is way overpaid, maybe Howard who is also way overpaid, Jim Jackson who jacks up too many shots, no point guards and no back up center. Hmmmm.... who is still better then us? Minn Sac Mem San Dal Den LAL (maybe) Overall, we will have not gotten ourselves higher in the standings and we will just have to hope that free agents see us as condenders. Now look at Orlando after the trade (remember, competing in the East) Steve/Lue Cuttino/Stevenson DG/Garrity Okafor/Scrub Cato/Okafor I know who will win out if this trade goes down...
If the Magic are serious about getting Shaq, they will need a third team or TE to make it work. Steve + TE, or possibly Mobley + Cato + TE could get the job done. Francis/??? TMac JJ/Boki Taylor or MLE signee (McDyess?) Yao We'd need a backup center, but if Shaq were no longer in the West and Yao makes the progress we all expect of him, this lineup could have a good shot at the Western Finals, possibly even the NBA finals.
I dont know...I just am not that excited about TMac. I would say that he is more talented and has a better potential than Francis, but would TMac + whatever equal the production of SF, Cat and Cato? Also with all the complaints from various posters about SF and Yao, I can just see that if this trade does happen, that we will revisit those discussion but with TMac's name in place of SF. Also about free agents and whatnots wanting to come to the Houston organization due to TMac and Yao, I dont know. I would say that what is more inviting is if we have a successful organization than just the personalities in it. Meaning, that we are successful on court and that the front office treats the players, their employees well. I am not saying that getting TMac will not have this effect, just that getting TMac does not guarantee this as some posters here seem to be implying.
You're assuming we'd make no other deals in the offseason, which is just ridiculous. Philly would be willing to take on Mo Taylor for Snow and McKie. Hell, they'd be willing to take back ANYTHING for Snow and McKie (whose contracts are longer than Taylors alone and pay more money when combined). McDyess has shown intrest in Houston. As has NVE (though he probably won't walk away from the cash). We could surround T-Mac and Yao with some very good role players.
McKie's been exposed to the expansion draft, and Snow just doesn't have any use in Philly. He has a big contract, but O'Brien wants guys that can shoot threes and will probably be starting AI at the point with Willie Green getting most of the minutes at the 2. Further, the Sixers need some help in the frontcourt, since DC will most likely be gone and Taylor has proven he can score off the bench. Philly just isn't getting many offers for McKie or Snow because of their contracts, and they appear to be giving up on their old vets.
Part my conclusion, part living in Philly and seeing how desperate they are to unload those two. We have 610 up here too, yanno. McKie would backup all three positions, though he could split time at the 3 with JJ as well. It really depends on our depth chart - we could (should) leave Aaron out of it altogether, but he shot the ball very well last year from 3pt range (about 43%), and if we plan on dealing Mo we'd have to include him. Now, if we were talking about trading Weatherspoon, then we could get Snow straight up.
If I were called in to consult on the deal I'd agree to Spoon - Snow. Or I'd do Mo for Snow/McKie but I'd want the deal to expand to include Lue and Dalembaert. I'll wait by my cell for the call.
Be prepared to lose it then. And people, for the last time, give the bring back Eddie Griffin thing a rest. It is not going to happen and it should NEVER even be a thought that pops in Dawson's head.
Good thread. From what I can see, our big hole is PG, with 3 minor holes at starting PF (need upgrade), reserve Small Forward, and reserve Center. Of these, it shouldn't be too difficult to fill the void at PG, a fair chance to get a reserve 3 and 5, but help at the 4 may be a pipe dream, barring a miracle trade. We have the MLE and the TE as our big bargining chips. 1. Bring in a starting PG for part of the MLE. Preferrably in the ballpark of $3 million. Derek Fisher and Charlie Ward are available and fit the JVG mold. Carlos Arroyo and Damon Jones are also on the market, but have considerably less value. Brent Barry is a popular choice on the boards, but isn't a natural PG and may likely call for the entire MLE if not more. 2. Bring in a backup center for the remaining MLE, or swing a minor trade if possible. Chris Mihm, Jake Tsakalidis, Adonyl Foyle, Stromile Swift, Mark Blount, and others are out there. None are much to look at, all may manage to get bids beyond the Rockets' means, but they would be nice as back ups. 3. Sign a small forward (Stephon Jackson?) for the minimum or swing a trade for a guy like Jumaine Jones. 4. The only way I can envision the Rockets improving the power forward position is by using the TE. Whether or not this happens largely depends on whether Alexander is willing to swallow a luxury tax payroll (chances aren't good). Trading one of the PFs with part of the exception could land the Rockets a complete big man. Question is, who? Antoine Walker? Webber? A S&T for Eric Dampier? Kurt Thomas and a garbage contract? Malik Rose? Brian Grant? There's really not a dream deal out there. This isn't a league over-flowing with quality big men, and anyone that's available is available for a reason. This could likely be an area that will require a few years of patience. Evan
Plus the guy that will be in charge of finding those "role" players is the same guy that brought you A Griffin & E Piatkowki & Moochie Norris. that is definitely something to think about...and fear.
